Summer Bible Study

"Prayer: It's Not About You" is my first published book. It's the book that got me a writing contract. It's the book that started my writing career. I have told the story before, about how I faced a difficult time and wanted to know more about prayer for application in my own life (because I wanted my prayers to get answered.) I started my own personal study of prayer, searching the Bible for any and all passages about prayer. This quest took four years, at the end of which I had a book written from my search. It took another few years to find a publisher but in May of 2016, the book made it's debut.

This book remains my best seller, possibly because it is often used by groups in group Bible studies. Just since last fall it has been used in a men's small group Bible study, a senior Sunday school class in a large church here in Louisville, a women's group study in Missouri, and an online women's study in Nashville. The leader of the group in Nashville, whom I do not know, said it was one of the best books on prayer she has ever read.

Looking for a good summer or fall Bible study, group or individual, online or otherwise? Want to know more about prayer? You will find this a good resource.

A Gift for You!

Everyone at Pix-N-Pens (my publisher) are so excited about the upcoming release of "Prayer Warrior Confessions." To celebrate, we are putting it on sale for just .99 on release day, November 6, and also giving away "Glimpses of Prayer" for free that day too! Don't miss it!

"Prayer Warrior Confessions" is a collection of nonfiction stories about prayer. The stories will literally make you laugh and cry. It is such a precious book. 

I think books are a bit like children. You love them all but sometimes one will particularly delight you. That's what this book feels like to me--like that adorable, somewhat unpredictable, delightful child who makes your heart feel like it's about to burst. 

I hope  your enjoy this book as much as I do. 

Cover Reveal!!!

My co-writing friend, Shirley Crowder, and I are at it again. The third in our four-part series of books on prayer will be released by PixNPens Publishing in early December  and today we can finally reveal the cover! We are so excited!

The book will be a 50 day devotional on the topic of prayer. Just as a review, our four part series on prayer include: Prayer: It's Not About You by me, Study Guide on Prayer by Shirley, "Glimpses of Prayer" to be released soon, and a collection of true stories about prayer tentatively titled, "Prayer Warrior Confessions" coming out summer '18.

The soon-to-be released book also fits into plans we have for a devotional series that will be written and in one case re-vamped in the next couple of years. These "Glimpses" devotionals will all be illustrated by my talented daughter, Kristin Michael. 

And now for the cover reveal:

Cover Reveal!

Drum roll please ...

... and here it is! The long awaited cover reveal for my upcoming book. The book should be released within a few weeks by Pix-N-Pens Publishing. Stay tuned.

Ashes for Beauty

*The picture I posted is the one that ran in the newspaper, my senior year of high school when I won the “Bicentennial Minute” essay contest.

Isaiah 61:1-3 says in part, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives … to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness …” (KVJ)

 

That is exactly what God did for me when He opened the doors to writing for me. He exchanged my spirit of heaviness for a garment of praise; gave me beauty for ashes.

The year was 2003 and someone close to me was hurting greatly after experiencing a trauma. I started praying, oh so, earnestly. And as I did, all of my prayers were focused on my friend, her pain, her trauma, her need for healing. But I happened to be reading the Psalms in my devotions. (I write the word happened facetiously as I do not think it was happenstance at all, but rather God’s divine leading.)

 

One day I noticed something interesting in how David and the other Psalmists petitioned God. They did not base their petitions on their needs. Oh, sometimes they did, and certainly they cried out to God, pouring their hearts out to Him and telling Him their problems. But these were not the basis for their petitions. Instead they based their petitions on God—who He is, His character traits, His power, for His glory, and so forth. This observation revolutionized my prayer life. I started asking for healing not because my friend needed healing, for example, but because God was the great physician, because He was merciful and full of loving kindness, etc.

 

Then I thought, “Wow, what else do I not know about prayer?” My missionary parents taught me to pray as a child, and I have prayed all of my life.  But I did not realize this truth; what else had I missed? 

 

I began a personal quest to understand prayer better. I read from Genesis to Revelation, seeking passages on prayer, or times when people spoke to God, praised God, or made requests of Him. In the Old Testament these were often in conversation form, but I still considered them prayer since they were communing with God. I journaled as I searched.

 

Four years later, I had a hand-written manuscript written. And my friend? She was and is doing well. Beauty for ashes for both of us.